WINDFALLS

BUCKLE UP

This western-style belt buckle would do J.R. proud. It’s made of 18-karat gold and platinum and is outfitted with 52 flat-set diamonds weighing a total of 1% points -just four points short of two karats. Each buckle is handcrafted in Dallas and the designer, Bill Mowery, guarantees each as a limited-edition piece. The buckle, including keeper and tip set, is $9000. Texas Best Western Jewelry, P.O. Box 7729, Dallas 75209. 495-3997.

FROLICKING FELINES

There’s been a pro- liferation of cat books lately, but only one that we know of by a Dallas resident. She’s Lynn Lennon, a photographer who until now was best known for a series of fantasy self-portraits she made several years ago. Now she has over 80 cat photographs in a book published by Viking. Autographed copies available at House of Books, 622 Preston Royal Village. 363-6569.

FASHIONABLE FOODSTUFFS



When we first set foot in DiPalma, just a day after owners Christine and Jerry Feder opened its doors last Memorial Day, we knew it was on its way to becoming the Dean and DeLuca of Dallas. One of the first lines DiPalma acquired was Silver Palate, an enticing array of condiments and preserves manufactured by two New York women who believe America should be producing its own gourmet food instead of importing it from France.

At DiPalma, you see the felicitous results, all packaged with American classic elegance. There are vinegars (including raspberry, blueberry, and champagne), oils (try walnut, basil, or pink peppercorn), mustards, as well as herbs, spices, nuts, sweet sauces, and preserves. All items are made in the U.S. except the preserves, which come from France. At DiPalma, 1520 Greenville. Open Mon-Sat 11-8. 824-4500.

ECLECTIC CHAIR

Japanese designer Toshiyuki Kita has named this chair “Wink” for the welcoming and relaxing effect it has on the human body -the same effect as a wink. Manufactured in Italy and offered in the U.S. by Atelier International, Kita’s contemporary design emphasizes comfort, freedom of movement, and an unusual sense of play. Equally important is the Wink’s considerable adjustability; the headrests, back, and footrest all move to provide maximum comfort. So much adaptability has given the Wink a decidedly anthropomorphic look. The headrests are called “ears” and the chair even has “clothes” -slipcovers in bright pastels that fit its various parts. The Wink comes in leather ($3030) or canvas ($1700) and is available to designers I at Atelier International in the World Trade Center and at S. Vogue, 4121 Lomo Alto. Open Mon-Thur 10-7, Fri till 10, Sat till 6, closed Sun. 522-9260.

HORSING AROUND

Dallas’ most enduring landmark and symbol, the Magnolia Building Pegasus, has inspired a new collectionof T-shirts, accessories,and stationery. For yearsatop the Magnolia Building (which long reigned as thecity’s tallest building), thewinged Pegasus represented flights of opportunity and unknown heights of good living to those outlanders to whom the city beckoned. Even though the landmark is now obscured by taller skyscrapers, the spirit lives on – particularly in this exclusive collection of all-cotton T-shirts (available in end-of-summer brights and fall shades of loden green, hunter green, burgundy, and goldenrod), at $8. Available in black only are a nylon tote bag, $16, and a matching umbrella, $18. Spirit of Dallas writing tablets and envelopes are available for $5, note pads for $1.50. Exclusively at Under Arrest, 3833 Cedar Springs. Open Mon-Fri 10-10, Sat & Sun noon-6. 528-3380.

CLEAN UP YOUR ACT

Second only to acquiring new leather and fur for fall is having your existing leather and fur look like new. That’s the business of Dallas Leather and Fur Care, which has been giving leather and fur kid-glove care for over 20 years. Services offered include suede, leather, and fur cleaning; glazing (which restores the luster to fur); leather refinishing; and cold storage. In addition to garments, the cleaners will clean other all-leather items (such as bags) and footwear without inner soles (such as moccasins). Dallas Leather and Fur Care, 1909 Greenville. Open Mon-Fri 8-5, Sat till noon. 826-2006.

CHILD’S PLAY

Whitney Anne Walker specializes in creating total environments made for children to stimulate their maximum developmental potential. Walker’s approach outlaws TV in the child’s room, steers clear of over-stimulating color, and makes the child responsible for his or her own environment. She uses Montessori open shelving, “ridiculously durable” materials, large pin-up boards and chalkboards, and plastic coating for walls in case a kid accidentally gets scribble-happy. Her commercial projects include jobs for the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children and the DISD’s East Oak Cliff educational center. Now she’s concentrating on residential work, designing children’s environments for some of the city’s best-known families. One recent project resulted in a children’s room with a four-wall and ceiling mural of the Texas Hill Country, including life-size animals and specially made twin beds styled as forts. An important step in all residential jobs is meeting the child, or children, and creating an environment tailored to their individual interests and needs. A total environment, including specially designed and manufactured furniture and accessories, runs from $8000-$ 10,000 and up. Whitney Anne Walker, by appointment, P.O. Box 19551, Dallas 75219, 747-7740.